Fernando on Graham’s Ford’s Resignation

June 25, 2017

Andrew Fidel Fernando. courtesy oF ESPNcricinfo, 24 June 2017, where the title is “Ford steps down as Sri Lanka coach”

Graham Ford has stepped down as Sri Lanka coach, ending his second tenure with the side after 15 months. SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said the decision had been arrived at mutually, “after careful consideration and deliberation”. Ford’s relationship with SLC was understood to have been strained due to what he felt were unacceptable intrusions into team matters by the board. Ford had already left the island on leave, which would have ended early next week. One of his grievances was the expanding powers of Asanka Gurusinha, who in February was appointed “cricket manager” – a position with a broadly defined range of duties, some of which Ford is understood to have felt infringed upon his freedom as a coach. In the time since his appointment, Gurusinha was also made a selector.

Though there were no reports of a personal rift between the two men, it is understood Ford was made to feel less than fully in control of his team during the recent Champions Trophy. Ford had since met with the board in Colombo but, before his departure from Sri Lanka, struck an optimistic tone about the team’s prospects, saying: “The character that [the team] continues to show is really exciting. If we get a bit of experience among the younger players and we continue to keep that fight – that kind of spirit is really important if we’re going to build and become a highly competitive team.”

Ford’s contract was slated until the end of the 2019 World Cup, a duration he insisted on when he took up the role last year because of the instability surrounding the job. Since 2011, Sri Lanka have had eight head coaches (including interim appointments) in nine separate stints – Ford having worked two shifts: from 2012 to 2014, then again from February last year to now.

SLC had hired Ford largely because of his excellent global reputation for managing young players – a skill seen as vital to Sri Lanka’s progress following some high-profile player retirements. He oversaw one of the team’s greatest ever Test series victories, against Australia last year, but many of the remaining assignments Sri Lanka have had under his watch have produced disappointing results.

Ford, however, has always insisted that it would be years before Sri Lanka becomes a top cricketing nation again, and saw his role as a long-term facilitator of the rebuilding process. The lack of short-term results, however, had prompted SLC to appoint of new coaching and management staff. This difference in expectation is what has partly led to the loss of faith.

Sumathipala acknowledged Ford’s role in handling the team at a time when Sri Lanka cricket faced a “volatile and uncertain” period. “We have to thank Fordy for his invaluable contribution to Sri Lanka Cricket,” Sumathipala stated in the SLC press release. “He joined us at a time where we were quoted by the ICC as being on the ‘verge of suspension’ and at a time where things were volatile and uncertain, Ford had faith in us and has given us his fullest support. This was a decision arrived at mutually after careful consideration and deliberation and we are both confident of its propriety.”

COMMENTS IN CRICINFO

CRICFAN9033227104 ONJUNE 25, 2017, 9:23 GMT

time to bring back hathurusinghe..

RAMANJIT ONJUNE 25, 2017, 9:03 GMT

I think Ford was not effective at all. His departure will not be a dent. Gurusinghe will either do the job or perish. Since he must have higher aspirations like Hathurusinghe, I guess he will try his best to make a change. His Australian experience will be an asset. Mahela is too early for the job. Most of the team members are his buddies. That makes a coaching job difficult.

HERTUP ONJUNE 25, 2017, 8:17 GMT

i Don’t think..ford did what he should do..what he was supposed to do is create at least 3 solid batsmen n 3 good bowlers..appart from kusal..(unlikely to call consistent batsmen )no improvement at all.. I don’t blame ford only.. I think board n selectors should step down too..also the captain..he is with team for 5 years..yet we don’t have solid team..

UNKNOWNJOHNSON ONJUNE 25, 2017, 7:58 GMT

Looks like Ford is heading for the India team ‘coach’ job!!

CLUELESSJAN1 ONJUNE 25, 2017, 7:46 GMT

@SLBRAN spot on Thirimanna is another player who debut at 20 years and was considered a talent for the future. if we give youngsters an opportunity at that age then the responsibility of selectors is to groom them properly with a long term view. still remember the odi century thirimanna scored against aussies in Australia.

CRICFAN39344727 ONJUNE 25, 2017, 7:30 GMT

what happened to Kapu is he dropped again after did well in domestic, just one match doesn’t tell you the story. Kapu should deserve a chance i guess.

SLBRAND ONJUNE 25, 2017, 5:10 GMT

@CLUELESSJAN1 – a big mistake is to compare averages of players of different era (10-15 years difference). The game has changed, 300+ scores are the norm, so we must compare averages of modern players with their contemporaries. The averages of high order batsmen are quite high these days (take all the top teams and consider the players who has played over 70 matches). Chandimal’s average is below Thirimanne’s — that tells the story.

This guy didn’t do much to improve the team. Get mahela, sanga and dilshan to coach the team. Also get Tom moody as an assistant

CRICFAN76238732 ONJUNE 25, 2017, 2:43 GMT

Gura may have been a good player in his time but I think he has an attitude issue. Watch the 1996 WC final. See what he did to Sanath after wining the WC

SHANIL1984 ONJUNE 25, 2017, 0:06 GMT

It’s really disturbing to hear that this was forced by interference by Gurusinghe. Unfortunately our team is hampered by the petty insecurities of men. A microcosm of what is wrong with Sri Lankan society as a whole. I’m sure Gurusinghe has a lot to offer form his experiences in Australia but Ford was a world class coach. This just adds to a whole list of failures on the part of the board, in attracting and retaining talented coaching staff. No one will want to take it up. We have a poor track record of backing them up and giving them autonomy. Local coaches will not do as they often lack exposure and even if they so, are highly vulnerable to petty politics. The irony is that we need foreign coaches because of their ability to cut through the bullshit and focus on performance. Though it seems our board is hell bent on finding new ways to undermine their authority.

CLUELESSJAN1 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 22:13 GMT

does sl really need gura ? if he is to continue guras and coaches jobs need to be clearly described. sl selectors have to take lot of responsibility for our recent fsilures. for instance chandimal with all the recent failures still averages more than mahela and sanath in odi. sl doesn’t have experience and need to give stability to a player like him. make a call now whether he is going to be playing 2019 wc now. in my view he is the next long term captain for sl.

ALEXK400 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 21:47 GMT

Ok. I found it. Rat and Horse are similar and they don’t like each other as well. Horse thinks it knows. Rat thinks it knows more.I trust horse more in administration that is fair. I mean world is biased. Humans are biased in nature. But only in horse you find equality and fairness. Horse is secretive of it plans but bit amateur in everything it does. Getting rid of Ford is good thing for srilanka. Rat is idealist. Very impractical. They fail in anything that apply to everyone but themself. Inorder for srilanka to do well , the administaror chief has to be snake or dragon sign. Why? Because even if you appoint sanga or jaywardene as coach there will be interference. Only snake and dragon can handle snake. coach also have to be dragon or snake. if you go this will it be discriminative? Well humans are discriminators in everything. It kinda fengshui in terms of understanding human energy. May be its psuedo nonsense but it works in analysis of people 100%.

MODERN-SPECTATOR ONJUNE 24, 2017, 21:05 GMT

1) Reality, non-interactive ex-coach failed to avoid suspension & slipped ranking. 2) All asst. coaches (batting / bowling / fielding / physical trainers) should be capable to rapport / communicate fluently (particularly, in local language) with players. 2) SL still need to replace Chandimal’s spot from any short-formats. If one player plays for himself, automatically, other aggressive players forced to do the same just to secure their spot…contagious…Asela, Seeku, KJP…all settled for tuk tuk. e.g. KJP’s 47 not out (zero effort to keep up the required run rate). Good, KJP showed the selectors that he can play selfish too. 3) Totally disagree that sticking out bellies brought poor display although appreciate MP’s frank concern. Please, put CT stuff in past, aim for WC (encouraging match winners: Malinga, TP, KJP with opening pair DW/UT and grooming Danus, Kapu, Asela). Please use Zim series to enroll overlooked young stars. Please publish.

RAJ LAKMIN ONJUNE 24, 2017, 20:34 GMT

And that will be the last time a top coach will ever sign a contract with SLC.

SHYAMAL WIJESINGHE ONJUNE 24, 2017, 19:10 GMT

Why is Ford leaving ? This is a.l big loss to SL team at this juncture. We need a strong coach who has a long term vision.

CRICKET4321 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 18:58 GMT

The worst thing that happened to SL cricket is Thilanga Sumathipala becoming the president of SLC. This media/attention whore is using Sri lankan cricket for his political career and to fill his hefty pockets and the a*s kissers around him. First of all SL should get rid of this pretentious slob.

DEEPFREEZED ONJUNE 24, 2017, 17:57 GMT

Mahale or sanga won’t touch this with a 10 foot stick. Its gurusingha that wants to be coach. No one with get involved now. Best is to have short term pros to come in to give pointers like Donald did.

REDHILL ONJUNE 24, 2017, 17:17 GMT

This is so embarrassing. SLC are a joke and not a very good one even…

STUMPEDLLOYD ONJUNE 24, 2017, 17:04 GMT

Why is this not surprising? Who would want to work with SLC? Why on earth would Mahela get involved in this mess? He got out of captaining and playing because he did not want any part of this. Only way for SLC to improve is to remove the politics out of it. Hong Kong will win a cricket World Cup before that happens.

SHELDON#THAT’SMYSPOT ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:41 GMT

Sangakkara must be facepalming right now.

SHELDON#THAT’SMYSPOT ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:40 GMT

Sri lanka going old school with stubborn Gurusingha is gonna take Sri lanka back to the late eighties. Shame , a real bloody shame. Ford was a fine coach. He was getting somewhere with Mendis, Dickwella and Gunathilaka

SHELDON#THAT’SMYSPOT ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:38 GMT

Ford wasn’t the problem. It’s the continued assistance to men like Chandimal who only deserves a place in the Test eleven. The only instances i remember of a team carrying a unproductive man in the line-up was Jacques Kallis, Tendulkar , Ponting and Jayasuriya in the twilight of their careers and those men were titans. What has Chandimal done except fail , fail and fail. Hopefully he can make a comeback with performances like Shoaib Malik did for Pakistan. But right now the cog in this clock that’s costing us major games is Chandimal walking out at No 4. Not Graham Ford. He’s a pure test batsman. You wouldn’t see Pujara in the Indian ODI eleven. Shame Sri Lanka. Shame Gurusingha

SHELDON#THAT’SMYSPOT ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:37 GMT

A bloody brilliant job Mr. Gurusingha, This sends such a welcoming message to the new coach whoever it’s going to be. Might as well you do the coaching too as no one with a spine would want to be your pawn.

MARKCOORAY ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:37 GMT

I suggest Gary Kirsten or Mahela Jayawardene…We have to produced players but not have time to rehabilitate.I have a complete plan and i give it for free.

CRICINFOUSER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:24 GMT

Nobody wants to work with this board, we’re going to become like the West Indies if we less businessman with vested interest run cricket in Sri Lanka. Whilst other countries can go to former players to provide assistance with their youth systems and even senior players, nobody decent in Sri Lanka wants to be anywhere near the SLC i.e. Sanga, Mahela, Murali, Hathurusinghe etc.

Even if the local coach is good and clean, they end up with a lower amount of respect from the players cause of our general attitude towards taking orders from something other than a white man.

Moody would be crazy to return, he’s had better offers that he has declined.

AUSLANKAINDIA99 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:23 GMT

Perfect opportunity for mahela jayawardene as SL coach

SUGATH ONJUNE 24, 2017, 16:16 GMT

Well, Ford has failed and so did Gurusinghe another failure. I think Sri Lanka is becoming good hunting ground for failures, as it looks failures are the pillars of our Cricket. Can SLC jettison all these people and get either Kumar or Mahela to take over?

AMUNI12 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 15:49 GMT

Based on facts presented in this article it looks like SL board made mistakes by putting other personnel in positions that interfere Ford’s ability to do his job. If the board made a decision based on performance at CT, it is a mistake by the board. Primary reponsibility of winning a match rely upon players. No matter how good the coach is if players drop catches like Thisara, you can’t win matches. If SL had held on to those missed chances ultimate result of the tournament could have been different. The board needs to have patient and understand that rocking the ship every time a wave hit the ship is not going to help reach its destination.

AK47_PK ONJUNE 24, 2017, 15:11 GMT

Srilankan batting line up is almost settled now with some good young batsmen coming in. Now they need couple of good bowlers to compliment batting line up and they sholud be up and running fine. its not like they are bottom of the rankings in a sport boasting about 200 teams. wr have only 12 teams playing odis and any team can beat anyone on a given day. they just beaten indians quite comfortably.nobody cares about rankings cause if u play home most of the time then you’re guaranteed to be in top 4 just like india.

CRICFAN1244731839 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 14:35 GMT

if some say ford’s departure is a loss, most of that blame should go to our star players whose pathetic performance in the ct cup resulted the public and the politicians to go angry. the captain missed the all important first match because he got injured playing in the ipl as the minister said, kusal p limped off due to poor fitness and thisara dropped a lolly due to his bulging belly.a poor stand in captain lost his place even after multiple ,I mean multiple (heard about 70) warnings. this guy never should be a captain again. obviously because of these players poor display, everyone questioned the coach naturally.

CRICINFOUSER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 14:21 GMT

guess ford might apply for india coach position

GOLDENEYE075 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 14:12 GMT

I didn’t realize that SL could, fall from the bottom that they were in. In FACT, I am wrong… SL cricket keeps hitting new lows every day…. DAAM they are good at, making bad situations, worse and worse……………

UDAY.DHARANIDHAR ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:59 GMT

Lot of respect for Ford. As he said it takes years from now to make Sri Lanka again a top team and in fact a competitive team. For this Sri Lanka need to win regularly and have to take wickets. If their middle overs bowling doesn’t help then they can never win. If Thisara Perera held onto that catch offered by Sarfraz, Sri Lanka would gone to semi-finals to major tournament which could have boosted the confidence of these young players. Ford has done well to keep the things together and build from the scratch. I agree with other comments here, Tom Moody would be excellent coach. Also, captain needs to be aggressive on the field and pump up the players. See how Virat does this with the Indian team. Immediately, Sri Lanka need good bowlers especially spin options. Can’t rely on guys like Sekkuge prasanna as he can bat as well. Wicket takers are needed. I don’t think Sri Lanka should go back to local watch, look out for foreign coach, if possible Tom Moody.

SANTM ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:52 GMT

Oh no. Not Gurusinghe as the coach. He would take Sri Lanka back to early 80s where the team had little or no success. I doubt Gurusinghe’s capability as a coach for SL. This is move seems politically motivated and not the interest of national team.

FINELEG87 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:43 GMT

Hathurusinghe should be crazy to leave & come to SL. He’s doing a great job in BD & unlike in SL he has the freedom to run his team. As for Mahela he’s much better off coaching MI. Also looks like the Bangladeshi’s have marked him as a future coach ….

CRICKETCHAT ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:37 GMT

Coaching SL, BD, WI and ZIM (bottom 4 of the elite group) and PAK (due to their unpredictable nature) is always tough. I am sure most of the time, coaches take these jobs as a short term assignment to gain international experience to further their careers or just gain employment.

FEDUPSL ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:26 GMT

As I think, Tom Moody would be a good choice as head coach, if they can get him down. He had done a great job for SL in his previous tenure, bringing lot of success. Who knows, this could be a blessing in disguise, unless they again appoint some local guy like Marvan Athapaththu or even MJ with a well-known tendency for internal politics and that will ruin things further. Sanga is different, but he wouldn’t accept such offer.

FEDUPSL ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:18 GMT

Ford may be a good coach for youngsters, but in our case we couldn’t see any improvement at all in brittle consistently poor batting of some seniors like Chandimal/ Kapu & youngsters like DdeS, Dhanushka etc. , who made up the middle order and top. CT preliminary round elimination is a clear result of poor batting. 1st odi vs SA, should have easily won after restricting SA to 299 and given the best launching pad by Openers UT-57/ND-41 having put up 94 runs from 11 ovs @ almost 9 runs/ov, but given away sadly by 4 batters falling cheaply like a pack of cards, unable to score those 96 collectively to win that match. Up to that stage (2/3 of the match) had in our hands as SA skipper AB de Villiers said later. The last match Vs Pk apart from the lone Opener (ND) remained to fight from disrupted duo to score 70 runs (after Boon’s axe cut most consistent contributor UT), all other batters failed to see at least 250+ runs on the board on that 280+ deck with a single fifty plus score!

CRICFAN1244731839 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:09 GMT

though we don’t like politicians generally,we should thank the sports minister for bringing the fitness and injury issues to the front. probably the slc and coaches were finding difficult to impose rules to star players on fitness.now dayasiri brought this to the public attention they are forced to do something. kusal perera limped off before scoring a fifty,had he been available against the pak instead of dananjaya, we would have won.even Mathews was unfit due to injuries again for the game against sa after ipl. mathews spent so much time off even without facing a single game against the bd to go to ipl.hats off to dayasiri for bringing to public attention.

CRICFAN9033227104 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 13:01 GMT

it’s very sad because he is a one of the great man not only as a coach also a great human being..very sad.

DREAMCRICKETER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 12:57 GMT

This is what happens in Sri Lanka and India. See what happen to Kumble. The players and politician run the show!. Sad to say but this happens in the Asian sub continent!

DREAMCRICKETER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 12:49 GMT

Sri Lankan politics as usual will never ever let someone do the Job!

SAMAN_WMA ONJUNE 24, 2017, 12:48 GMT

No one will accept the post of head coach if the so called “cricket manger” takes over head coach’s duties. It’s pathetic

CRICFAN1244731839 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 12:10 GMT

the best will be mahela to become the head coach, is there something why mahela suddenly cancelled his lancashire deal? second option is hathurusinghe .one of these with gurusinghe could be a good combination. daily mirror reported of ford’s possible departure for sometime now so sure the slc has already done the deals behind the doors.

11_WARRIOR ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:51 GMT

Coaches are resigning due to non cricketing reasons in Asian countries. Sad but true.

NEPHROLOGIST ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:22 GMT

Lankans need to hit the gym and develop a power game like the rest of the world… can never score more than 120 in T20…sad 😦

CRICINFOUSER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:11 GMT

May be he has bigger ambitions. who knows the next coach for India is Ford or not. Ford is skillful but not good for Asian teams and conditions. I wish Hathurusinghe or Mahela … back in SL cricket. Gurusinghe is tuff cookie.. we need guys like that to push young team. I even like to see Arjuna’s return to SL cricket. Also Vaasee

AMLA_THE_BEST ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:10 GMT

bring hathursinghe from BD. He has developed BD into a competitive team so that will augur well for SL. Also Mahela did well with Mumbai Indian. He can also take Sri Lanka forward.

CRICFAN6936917043 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:10 GMT

Mr.donald did great job with SL bowlers in CT.apoint him as a head coach

KINGOWL ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:07 GMT

On the topic of SL Vs foreign coaches: I still think we should have a foreign head coach who is not influenced by the local politics. A local man will find it almost impossible to work. Even someone as independent and strong willed as say Sanga will find it challenging. It is not a matter of skill. It is the politics of SL. I also think SL needs specialist batting, spin bowling, fast bowling and fielding coaches at the national level. They may work with the A team as well. But they need to be world class. The coach may also have to become a bit unpopular to instill discipline in the team. That will be the more challenging part for a new coach, whoever that may be.

KINGOWL ONJUNE 24, 2017, 11:01 GMT

I think Ford is no doubt a very good coach in many ways. He did a lot for SL and we should be thankful. But over the last few months, I have started having great concerns. Poor fielding and the lack of fitness/discipline among the players are the biggest concern I had. They HAD to be corrected. Is Ford responsible for making players fit? Possibly not, at least not totally responsible. But someone has to take responsibility. May be he focused too much on the young players and the seniors got an easy ride. I am not sure. Is Gurusingha the man to make players fit? Absolutely not. One look at his puffed up face and 100% body fat content would indicate that he is in no position to make players fit. I am not sure how good he is as the manager. But he has not been involved in competitive cricket for a long time. How good CAN he be? I doubt he has the right recent experience. So if he was interfering, I can also understand Ford’s complaints. Anyway, I do think SL needed a change at the top.

SALLU RIYADHI ONJUNE 24, 2017, 10:47 GMT

Sri Lanka needs Aaqib Javed who was trained under Imran Khan!! Bowlers win you matches. Sri Lanka can make runs but can’t bowl out opposition yet.

CRICINFOUSER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 10:35 GMT

Get Mayya to coach the team. Sack all the foreign coaches including the Fielding coach. Get dilshan as Fielding coach.

CRICFAN37774257 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 10:31 GMT

this is the reason why not many foriegn coaches apply for the job in slc

EASYGOING.JOE ONJUNE 24, 2017, 10:20 GMT

If Ford really thought that even after what’s now nearly an year and a half – and the team is as bad as it ever was (by which I mean can’t even win a series against Bangladesh on home soil) – it’s not enough time to produce some results, he probably isn’t in the right job. Any pressure he’s getting is the pressure of a country frusted by poor performances.

Mr. Ford – there’s only so much a country can be let down. Not sure if it’s your fault, the teams fault, big bellies messing up catches or the government. All I can say is – ultimately a coach’s worth is in the results he delivers. Right now we aren’t see anything much.

LAKSHITHA.JAYAKODY ONJUNE 24, 2017, 10:12 GMT

High time to get a local coach. Mahela Jayawardane is the ideal person.

CRICINFOUSER ONJUNE 24, 2017, 9:14 GMT

This was on the cards from the time Gurusinghe was appointed. Gurusinghe made a number of public comments which would have been of concern to the coach. Ford was skillful and did his best with a young group, and should have been allowed to continue without interference. With the current team, there can be no fixes and results will take a while. Losing Ford is a loss for Sri Lanka.

RUWAN123 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 8:51 GMT

Best news that i was expecting to hear for a long time. Felt like we won the CT. Ford is a total waste.

SAMWINTSON92 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 8:45 GMT

What a loss for Sri Lanka cricket ! They need to hire Tom Moody before India does !

KADMIN ONJUNE 24, 2017, 8:30 GMT

I think it was the culture indifference played a big part of that decision. It was his second tenure, but I didn’t see major improvements. i.e. Anji’s defensive tactics. I think he is more like a defensive coach with a better man management. Well, as an international coach you have to get used to this type of politics because it is bigger than some county cricket club. SLC has to move on quickly and appoint someone like Mahela. He is a good tactician and he proved his worth during IPL.

KOLITHA_109 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 7:26 GMT

Why cannot Sri Lanka do anything correct? Ford was doing a good job in getting the young players trained in the nitty-gritty of international cricket. He should be allowed to do his job without interference from the Board or anyone .

NIMESH RANDIKA ONJUNE 24, 2017, 7:02 GMT

@FELIX1025 , I dont know what you have against the sport minister , he has correctly highlighted the fitness level of the SL players which nobody seems to have cared before .

CRICFAN17605517 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:49 GMT

Here we go again! Why is it that members of the board in certain countries feel that only they know what’s best and they always undermine the very coach they hire to do the job in the first place? This is a recipe for disaster.

DJYASH ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:18 GMT

In my opinion Mahela should be the assistant coach before he gets the head coach role and there is a big possibility he will be the assistant coach/ Batting coach for srilanka from the Zimbabwe match. But he should be the assistant coach under Ford until 2019 then take over from there it will be the best for Srilankan team if they do that way . But the real thing which is going to happen is….. Well don’t think my comments will be published if I say it

HERTUP ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:14 GMT

first thing need to do is.. appointment interim slc cricket board… this should be head by someone knows about cricket..like mahela..then.. get good coach..who can push our team.like anil kumble..or someone..coz see.matthews..he cant even make 11 men..

FELIX1025 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:07 GMT

I think SL president and prime minister must interfere and sack th SLC board including sports minister. Feel sorry for the cricketers

MADUWANTHA ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:04 GMT

Sri Lanka did not expect to win the CT, but they had a good game against India and failure against Pakistan. Everyone knows SL is developing team not mature enough and once they mature it will be one of the best teams. Cricket administrators should identify this. The blame game is not necessary and it will ruin the game.Mahela and Sanga may prematurely retired may be due to this bad management. We must understand that players are precious and the only game SL is world class is the cricket and we should manage it carefully. We should listen to everyone and it should be a team spirit, not only among players but also administrators and coaching staff. No one is superior.

CHANDIMASL ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:04 GMT

With the appointment of Gurusinghe it seems most of the skillful people leaving the SLC.Sanath is due to resign in very near future.Aravinda and now Ford. As fans we can not comment who is right here and who is wrong.However, if it is due to political reasons,it is not good for the team.And another thing I have a feeling whether SLC is aiming to bring Hathurusinghe.Because he knows Gurusinghe very well.

AJITHABEY ONJUNE 24, 2017, 6:00 GMT

Interference by board officials,managers & other administrative staff makes it impossible for any coach or selection committee to perform their duties as per the terms of reference.SL probably have a world record of having so many coaches in the last 10 years. SL is reputed for getting the best and then dumping them half way through their term of office.It is best that all officials,managers & related staff stick to their own terms of reference and do not interfere in each others work which causes chaos and a poor reflection of the professionalism displayed by all concerned.This is the only way to take SL cricket forward which as per the ICC rankings are currently 7,8 & 9 respectively in all forms of International cricket which is the exact reflection of how cricket is administered in the country.

NUTCUTLET ONJUNE 24, 2017, 5:52 GMT

One thing is for sure, if SriLanka is short-sighted enough to make Graham Ford’s position untenable (and national board interference is the classic! Like the WICB who also don’t know how to keep their noses out!), then he won’t be without a post for any length of time! Top coach – without question! As Verinda_S has already remarked, Ireland would be an excellent appointment. He is just the right man to prepare them for Test cricket.

CLUELESSJAN1 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 5:27 GMT

can SLC afford to hire Kumble?

CRICFAN76238732 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 5:19 GMT

Im a glass half full type of a guy. Time to call Mahela J in

FELIX1025 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 4:59 GMT

Please send back Gurusinghe and bring back Ford

VIRENDRA_S ONJUNE 24, 2017, 4:31 GMT

Ireland go and hire Ford if available.

ALEXK400 ONJUNE 24, 2017, 3:27 GMT

I have come to a conclusion that no person with man management skills wants to be a coach. All i see people with cricket skills wants to be a coach. They are good in teaching in school cricket. In professional level you do not need how to learn new skill because body already matured and muscle memory is frozen. Change in style will have diseastrous result. I mean there are always exception to the case. I am not going to list why some coaches are bad.